Zeta Zooming Offshore The Mid-Atlantic Coast Toward The Western Atlantic

Discussion

At 500 PM EDT (2100 UTC), the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Zeta was located near latitude 38.8 North, longitude 75.3 West. Zeta is moving toward the east-northeast near 55 mph (89 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue through tonight. On the forecast track, the center of Zeta will emerge over the western Atlantic this evening.

Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph (85 km/h) with higher gusts. Some strengthening is forecast tonight, but the cyclone should become absorbed by a frontal system on Friday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 310 miles (500 km) mainly to the southeast of the center. A sustained wind of 39 mph (63 km/h) and a gust to 46 mph (74 km/h) were recently reported at Ocean City, Maryland.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 992 mb (29.30 inches).

Watches and Warnings

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Land Hazards

Key messages for Zeta can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT3, WMO header WTNT43 KNHC, and on the web at www.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT3.shtml.

WIND: A few strong gusts are still possible across portions of extreme eastern North Carolina, southeastern Virginia, and the southern Delmarva Peninsula during the next couple of hours.

RAINFALL: The last of the heavy rainfall along the track of Zeta will impact the Mid-Atlantic through this evening. Additional rainfall totals of an inch or less are expected across these areas, possibly resulting in flash, urban, small stream, and isolated minor river flooding.